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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

NASA PhoneSat project puts three Android-powered smartphone satellites in space

US space agency NASA has launched three smartphone-powered satellites into orbit around the earth. Each satellite uses a standard HTC Google Nexus One handset, which runs the Android operating system, although they’ve been given an external battery and a more powerful radio.

This project, known as PhoneSat, has been created to see if consumer smartphones can be used as the main flight avionics of an inexpensive satellite. The total cost of components for the three ‘nanosatellites’ - so-called because each one is a cube that’s just 4 inches square - is less than $7,000.

All three satellites are now sending information about their health back to Earth via radio and are also set to take pictures of Earth using their cameras. Data can be received by amateur radio operators using the 437.425MHz band.

Michael Gazarik, NASA’s associate administrator for space technology in Washington, said “It’s always great to see a space technology mission make it to orbit - the high frontier is the ultimate testing ground for new and innovative space technologies of the future. Smartphones offer a wealth of potential capabilities for flying small, low-cost, powerful satellites for atmospheric or Earth science, communications, or other space-born applications. They also may open space to a whole new generation of commercial, academic and citizen-space users.”

Alexander, Graham and Bell - the three satellites - are expected to remain in orbit for up to two weeks.

Earlier this year the University of Surrey’s Surrey Space Centre and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited launched a similar device into orbit, combining a smartphone with a separate Linux computer for its STRaND-1 CubeSat.

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Opinion Articles

The mobile phone doorbell has been with us for five years, not five minutes

Mark Bridge writes:

The 'mobile doorbell'. What a clever idea. If someone rings your doorbell when you're out, it'll call your mobile phone and will let you talk via an intercom to the person at your front door. You can even protect yourself against burglars by pretending you're inside the house.

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This week at The Fonecast: 18th June 2011

Mark Bridge writes:

Sometimes it seems that everyone and everything is out to get you. Recently, Nokia's been in that position – but this week it looks as though RIM is taking over as the mobile industry's whipping-boy.

Author: The Fonecast
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Box Breaking in the UK

Mark Bridge writes:

In this week's podcast feature, Iain Graham has been taking a look at 'box breaking' in the UK. Box breaking can take a variety of forms but it generally involves buying a 'pay as you go' mobile phone at a price that's subsidised in part by a mobile network - and selling it at a higher price to someone who won't connect it to the original network. The package of phone and SIM card is effectively 'broken', with the SIM often sold separately.

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App discovery gets smarter

Mark Bridge writes:

I've written previously about the changes happening to mobile application stores. Last week I was talking to Todd Levy about the family-friendly application store he's planning to launch. He explained how BloomWorlds would be curated to provide trusted reviews that weren't skewed by the app developers themselves.

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Big Brother Camera Security app removed from Apple store after iPhone password survey published

Mark Bridge writes:

It may have been done with the best possible intentions, but developer Daniel Amitay has managed to upset a few people after releasing information gathered by his Big Brother Camera Security app.

The app helped iPhone users to protect themselves against thieves; not only did it lock the user's iPhone if left unattended, it would use the phone's camera to take a photo of anyone who tried unsuccessfully to unlock the device.

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Recent Podcasts

Reviewing our 2015 mobile industry predictions... and looking forward to 2016

Podcast - 15th January 2016

Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge return to review their mobile industry predictions from last year. Which mergers, partnerships and developments did they forecast correctly... and which didn’t work out as planned?

Later in the programme, the team anticipates some of the topics that will be hitting the headlines during 2016.

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Podcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

Podcast - 6th March 2015

Mark Bridge learns about the mobile technology trends at Mobile World Congress 2015 by chatting to James Rosewell of 51Degrees, Dr Kevin Curran from the IEEE and Chris Millington of Doro.

They talk about wearable devices, wireless charging, mobile operating systems and much more... including some of their favourite products from the exhibition.

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Looking back at February: from security scares to multiple MVNOs

Podcast - 27th February 2015

We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.

We also talk about the planned BT and EE merger, the creation of two new UK virtual networks, some acquisitions in the mobile payment arena and a new Ubuntu smartphone.

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Interview with Chris Millington of Doro about mobile retailing, wearables and technology for older consumers

Podcast - 24th February 2015

In today's programme Mark Bridge talks to Chris Millington, who's Managing Director for Doro UK and Ireland.

They discuss the state of mobile retailing in the UK, the future of wearable devices and - as you might expect - smartphones for seniors.

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A month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

Podcast - 30th January 2015

We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?

We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.

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